Even a very small quantity of waste oil can cause serious damage to the environment if allowed to seep into waterways or ground water. Oil recycling is therefore very important in order to reduce the current environmental impact that waste oil has. Oil tipped down the drain and from other steady discharges has a much greater impact than oil tanker spillages which account for only about 5% of the total oil discharged into the sea. And oil recycling is not a difficult task, with more than 1000 recycling centres around the UK.
Oil recycling banks are for the disposal of used engine oil which should not be mixed with any other products such as solvents. The Oil Care Campaign was set up by the Environment Agency, in association with SEPA in Scotland and the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland, to reduce oil pollution by providing guidance on and facilities for the safe disposal of oil. More information on Oil Recycling can be found at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
If dealing with waste engine oil at home, do not allow the oil to seep into the ground or to go down a drain. This is a criminal offence with the risk of heavy fines. Not only does oil which gets into the waterways harm wildlife, but just one litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of drinking water. Instead take the waste to your nearest oil recycling point. The oil can then be cleaned and reused.
To find your nearest oil recycling point visit www.oilbankline.org.uk or call 08708 506 506.
Source: www.environment-agency.gov.uk 2012
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